STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With controversy continuing to batter Rep. Michael Grimm (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) after he threatened a NY1 reporter and later apologized, one staunch Grimm supporter declined to delve too deeply into the fracas.

GOP power broker Guy Molinari spoke briefly with the Advance about the episode.

"I've been there," Molinari said. "I've had my differences with the media. I'll leave it up to Grimm as to what he wants to say about it."

Molinari, who has issued full-throated defenses of Grimm when controversy has struck in the past, declined to talk any further about what he thought of the televised confrontation and the attention it has received.

Grimm kicked off a firestorm when he threatened to throw NY1 political reporter Michael Scotto off the Capitol Rotunda and said he would break him in half "like a boy" when Scotto looked to ask a question about fundraising allegations surrounding Grimm.

Grimm later apologized to Scotto in a phone call, and the congressman spent his day on Capitol Hill explaining the episode to Washington, D.C. reporters.

But GOP Borough President James Oddo, who fell out with Grimm over the contentious GOP Mid-Island City Council primary, declined to comment, telling the Advance in a text message, "I don't comment on him."

Titone said Grimm acted like "an attention-starved schoolyard bully" in threatening Scotto, and challenged Grimm to man up about the controversy.

"He needs to step up to the plate and truly act like a man," Titone said before Grimm's apology to Scotto.

While stopping short of calling on Grimm to resign, Titone said that Grimm must explain to his constituents how he plans to serve amid all the "negative distractions."

"He needs to explain how he will be an effective representative," Titone said.

Grimm's Democratic opponent, Domenic M. Recchia, on Wednesday called Grimm's behavior "disgraceful, completely unacceptable, and unbefitting of a United States congressman. Using threats of physical violence to intimidate the press from doing their jobs is against everything our country -- and our government -- stands for, and is a shameful abuse of power."

Recchia later sent out an email looking to raise campaign funds on the back of the controversy.

But for Wednesday, at least, Grimm was done explaining. Early in the afternoon, the congressman's office stopped answering queries about the episode.

Those reaching out for comment got this response from spokesman Nick Iacono: "Thank you for your solicitation for additional comment from Congressman Grimm. I am in receipt of your request. The Congressman will not be giving any additional comments on this matter at this time."